Disney Cruise Line
Seven Disney cruises booked for clients. Two sailed ourselves. Nick plans these the way he plans our own vacations - which is to say, in far too much detail.
A Disney cruise is not a cheaper way to do a Disney park.
It's a completely different vacation, and people get burned when they don't realize that going in.
Some families love it precisely because it isn't the parks. Nobody walks fifteen miles. Nobody melts down in a queue. The adults get an actual break, possibly for the first time in years.
Others book it expecting Magic Kingdom on water, and spend the week quietly wondering where the rides are.
The question was never "is a Disney cruise good." It's whether it's the right trip for you, this year, with these people. That's what the first conversation is for.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Four things that make or break it.
Which hip.
They are not interchangeable. The newer ships and the classic ones are meaningfully different experiences, and the right answer depends on your kids' ages, whether you care about the adult spaces, and what you actually want out of a week at sea.
Which itinerary.
Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska, Europe. The itinerary decides how much time you spend on the ship versus off it — and on a Disney cruise, the ship is very often the point. Choosing an itinerary that keeps dragging you off it is the most common mistake we see.
Which stateroom.
Deck, location, and whether the verandah earns its price. Twenty-three years in hotels means we think about rooms the way most people think about destinations. Some cabins are worth every dollar of the upgrade. Some are a view of a lifeboat.
What to book before you sail.
Excursions, adult dining, the spa, the things that sell out. They open on a schedule tied to your loyalty status, and they go fast. Miss the window and you're on a waitlist for the exact thing you booked the cruise for.
THE DECISIONS THAT MATTER
There's a reason for that. Tom McAlpin was president of Disney Cruise Line — he helped plan its first two ships and negotiated Castaway Cay. Years later, he became the founding CEO of Virgin Voyages.
The DNA carried over: an obsession with service, a refusal to nickel-and-dime, and the conviction that the ship itself is the destination rather than a bus between islands.
We've sailed Virgin eight times and Disney twice. Knowing where these two lines come from — and how differently they solve the same problem — is a large part of why we can tell you honestly which one is yours.
Disney and Virgin are closer cousins than you'd think
WHY WE KNOW BOTH
Two of ours. Seven of theirs.
Every recommendation on this page comes from a deck we've stood on or a trip we've planned.
WHAT WE'VE ACTUALLY SAILED
FAQs
Is it worth it if we don't have kids?
Sometimes, genuinely. The adult-only areas are better than people expect, and the service is excellent. But if you want a grown-up cruise, we'd probably point you at Virgin instead — and we'd tell you why. We're not in the business of selling you the wrong boat.
How does it compare to a park trip?
Less walking, less planning, less standing. More sitting, more eating, more actual rest. Some families find it's the Disney trip they should have taken all along. Others miss the rides. We'll help you figure out which one you are before you spend the money.
When should we book?
Earlier than you'd think, especially for the itineraries people want. The good staterooms on the good sailings go a long way out.
Do you handle the flights and the pre-cruise hotel too?
Yes, and you want us to. A cruise you almost miss because of a tight connection is not a relaxing cruise. This is the part where a career in aviation earns its keep.
QUESTIONS WE GET
Not sure it's the right boat?
That's a good reason to talk. Tell us who's coming and what you're hoping for, and we'll tell you honestly whether Disney is the answer.
START HERE